December 2011

December 27, 2011

DALLAS -- The Dallas Mavericks have today off. And boy, do they need it.

After those two debacles against Miami and Denver to start the season, perhaps a day away from the gym is exactly what the Mavs need. A time to reflect on that 11-point loss to the Heat and that 22-point loss to the Nuggets.

It couldn't hurt. Especially with the powerful Oklahoma City Thunder up next on the Mavs' schedule.

Thursday's game in Oklahoma City, followed by Friday's home game against Toronto, could tell a lot about where the Mavs are mentally, not to mention physically.

Coach Rick Carlisle said: "We're going to recharge (today), have a (heck) of a practice on Wednesday, and then we've got to go up to Oklahoma City and we're going to have to play a lot better.''

December 26, 2011

DALLAS _ Lamar Odom hasn't been as effective as he would like to in his first two games with the Dallas Mavericks.

Earlier tonight against the Denver Nuggets, Odom was just 1-of-10 from the field and scored six points to go with seven rebounds in 33 minutes. In Sunday's season opener against the Miami Heat, Odom was ejected in the third quarter after scoring just four points (1-of-6 field goals) and had four rebounds in 13 minutes.

The Mavs acquired Odom from the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 10. It's been a whirlwind for Odom ever since as he attempts to settle into a comfortable role with his new team.

DALLAS _ Back in the 2006-'07 season, things were looking very bleak for the Dallas Mavericks.

That season the Mavs jumped out to on 0-4 start. The natives were restless, everyone was panicking, and whatever wagons were being circled were about to burn to the ground.

Then suddenly, the Mavs caught fire -- in a very big way. The Mavs wound up winning an amazing 67 of the ensuing 78 games, finishing the season with a franchise-best 67-15 record and the best record in the entire NBA.

After losing 105-94 to Miami and 115-93 to Denver to open this season, the Mavs may need to find some more of that magical dust. Especially after the Nuggets used a 22-1 run in the last 6:28 of the second quarter to roll to a 69-42 lead at the half.

Things were so bad Monday that some of those loveable Mavs fans actually booed the home team.

DALLAS _ Shawn Marion scored just two points and collected six rebounds while p'laying tonight against Denver with a broken left pinky.

Marion sustained the injury during the Dallas Mavericks' season opener Sunday against the Miami Heat. He noted that it affected his play against the Nuggets.

"Yeah, it's hurting, but I'll fight through it the best way I can,'' said Marion, who played 23 minutes and was 1-of-5 from the field. "It's going to take a litte bit, so I've got to find a way to get comfortable with it and make some adjustments.''

Like the rest of the Mavs, Marion applauded the play of free agent center Sean Williams, who erupted for 12 points and three rebounds in 11 minutes before throwing up on the bench late in the game.

"He came in and was everywhere and was very active, and we need that from him,'' Marion said. "He was attacking the basket, contesting shots and creating activity in the paint, and we need that because we've been struggling.''

Indeed, the Mavs have struggled mightily. Miami had three 30-point quarters against the Mavs on Sunday, and the Nuggets added another two on Monday.

"It's tough and it's frustrating,'' Marion said. "We've still got to get comfortable out there.

"We're not comofrtable with each other on both ends of the floor. We're still trying to learn each other's games and we kind of have a new team out there and we're trying to get acclimated, and you can tell it's not flowing the way it should be, and there's going to be some bumps.''

With five new players on their roster, bumps were expected. But not these kind.

"No one said it was going to be easy,'' Marion said."We'll have a target on our back every game.

"But once we buckle down and get that base down, everything else will take care of itself.''

DALLAS _ In a scene that looks all too familiar, the Denver Nuggets are pounding the Dallas Mavericks at halfitme, 69-42.

The Nuggets are having a layup drill and dunkfest similar to what the Miami Heat enjoyed against the Mavs in Sunday's regular season opener. Miami led the Mavs, 62-41, at the half and by as much as 35 points in the third period before settling for a 105-94 victory.

Denver is shooting a healthy 57.4 percent from the field (27-of-47) to 42.1 percent for the Mavs (16-of-38). The Nuggets are also winning the battle of the boards, 26-15, and just looks like the fresher team.

Ty Lawson leads Denver with 21 points on 8-of-9 baskets, including 3-of-4 three-pointers. Andre Miller and Al Harrington each has 14 points for the Nuggets.

Dirk Nowitzki leads the Mavs with 10 points.

This is a back-to-backer for the Mavs, who looked gassed, while the this is the season opener for the Nuggets.

DALLAS _ Two weeks ago, Corey Brewer was just settling into his new life.

The five-year veteran had worked on his jumpshot, and had recently announced he was engaged to be married to Carolyn Friedrich. Then, before Brewer could say “I do,’ the Dallas Mavericks surprisingly traded him to the Denver Nuggets.

The trade, which occurred on Dec. 13 and also included Rudy Fernandez going to the Nuggets for a second-round draft pick, was nit what Brewer was expecting.

Brewer said the most difficult part of suddenly being traded was having to get used to a new system in a short period of time.

“It was pretty difficult just because it was in the middle of training camp,’’ Brewer said. “I had already practiced four days with the (Mavs), so I had to go learn a whole new system in four or five days.

“So I tried to get that system out of my head and learn this system. It was pretty difficult, but it is what it is. But it’s a good place, though.’’

Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said losing Brewer was a good news, bad news situation for Dallas.

“Because of the tax money, it’s a $$6 million contract instead of a $3 million contract, so I understood it.’’

With the Mavs stacked at small forward spot with Shawn Marion, Lamar Odom and Vince Carter, minutes for Brewer would have been scarce.

“It’s a good situation to be able to have a chance to play,’’ Brewer said. “Over there you never know what.

“I might have played, I might not have played. Over here, it looks like it’s a good situation for me. I have a chance to get my minutes.’’

Nuggets coach George Karl wasn’t sure what he was going to do before locking up Brewer and Fernandez in the trade.

“We got two guys I think that are NBA players,’’ Karl said, “and that can play 20 minutes in an NBA game any day they want to play, and can give you more.’’

As far as receiving the championship ring he earned with the Mavs last season, Brewer hasn’t had his rung finger sized up yet. Asked how he was going to get a ring if the Mavs don’t know his ring size, Brewer, who won a pair of NCAA championships at Florida in 2006 and ’07, said:

December 25, 2011

DALLAS _ Shawn Marion fractured his left pinky finger Sunday against the Miami Heat, but said it won’t prevent him from playing in Monday’s home game against the Denver Nuggets.

The Dallas Mavericks’ starting small forward, Marion said the injury occurred in the third period of the 105-94 loss to the Heat. Marion finished the game with 12 points (6-of-10 baskets), six rebounds, three assists and three turnovers in 29 minutes.

As far as his finger is concerned -- X-rays after the game revealed the fracture -- it looked bent and out of shape.

“It’s hurting, too,’’ Marion said of his pinky. “I got hit in the third quarter, but I’m all right, I’m a soldier.

“It was a defensive play. I think it was right before a three-point play. It is what it is.’’